University of Florida offering new advanced irrigation management course

A new online course for growers on advanced irrigation management will train nursery, greenhouse and CEA staff on how to match irrigation with crop needs for improved crop growth and sustainability.

The course is taught by John Lea-Cox, Ph.D., professor emeritus at the University of Maryland and an international expert in water and nutrient management. It is offered by the University of Florida IFAS Extension Greenhouse Online Training and is a requirement for the new Root Zone Expert program.

Advanced irrigation management is designed for people with some experience or entry-university level, who are in production, technical or sales role for greenhouse and nursery crops. Topics covered include irrigation systems components and design criteria, hydraulics, irrigation controllers, audits and controllers and best management practices for irrigation design and practices.

The course is offered in English and Spanish and runs for four weeks, from Aug. 4 to Aug. 29, 2025. The cost is $285 per participant. All course material is completely online and available at any time of the day, including pre-recorded videos, quizzes and an interactive discussion board with Lea-Cox.

Two new modules are activated each week during the course, for a total of eight learning modules. Instruction is at your own pace and time within the four weeks of the course, with a typical time commitment of about six hours per week. Click here to register.

A 20% discount is offered when registering five or more staff members. For more information, including discounts for multiple registrations, email greenhousetraining@ifas.ufl.edu.